This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 14, 1999

News Media contact:David Fiske (202) 418-0500TTY (202) 418-2555

FCC PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH WIRELESS MEDICAL TELEMETRY SERVICE THAT WOULD OPERATE ON PRIMARY BASIS, WITHOUT INTERFERENCE

The Federal Communications Commission today proposed to amend its rules to allocate
spectrum and to establish rules for a Wireless Medical Telemetry Service.

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today, the FCC's proposal would allow
potentially life-critical medical telemetry equipment to operate on a blanket licensed,
interference-protected basis.

Medical telemetry equipment currently operates on a secondary basis and is unprotected from
interference from primary users. The FCC believes this action will improve the reliability of this
life critical service.

Medical telemetry equipment is used in hospitals and health care facilities to transmit
patient measurement data to a nearby receiver, permitting greater patient mobility and increased
comfort. Examples of medical telemetry equipment include heart, blood pressure and respiration
monitors. The use of these devices allows patients to move around early in their recovery while
still being monitored for adverse symptoms. With such devices, one health care worker can
monitor several patients remotely, thus decreasing health care costs.

Medical telemetry devices are currently allowed to operate under both Parts 15 and 90 of the
Commission's rules. Part 15 permits medical telemetry equipment to operate on an unlicensed
non-interference basis on TV channels 7-13 and 14-46 (174-216 MHz and 470-668 MHz). Part
90 permits medical telemetry equipment to operate on a secondary basis to land mobile users in
the 450-470 MHz band.

The spectrum used on a secondary basis by medical telemetry in recent years has been
used more extensively by existing primary services, thereby posing an increased risk of
interference to medical telemetry devices. Also, over the past several years there have been
changes in these spectrum bands that heighten the concern about future interference to medical
telemetry uses, including FCC rule changes to Part 90 allowing for more efficient use of land
mobile radio services and the use of formerly unused TV channels for the transition from analog
to digital television broadcasting.

In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC tentatively concluded that it is necessary
to find additional spectrum for medical telemetry equipment and that the spectrum should be
allocated on a primary basis to ensure that medical telemetry equipment is able to function
without interference from other sources.

The NPRM invites comments on two alternative allocation proposals, 1) 608-614 MHz,
1395-1400 MHz and 1429-1432 MHz or, 2) 608-614 MHz and 1391-1400 MHz. For each
allocation proposal, comments are sought on the impact the proposal would have on prospective
uses of the bands for private land mobile services and for non-voice, non-geostationary mobile
satellite services. Comments are also sought on whether it is feasible for medical telemetry users
to share parts of these bands with non-voice, non-geostationary mobile satellite service operators
should this service be permitted to operate in such bands in the future.